As virtual shows are now very much a part of industry, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) launches virtual apparel platform in a big way.
AEPC has launched a 24x7x365 virtual platform where Indian apparel exporters can exhibit their products round the year and brands and buyers from across the world can visit and place their orders.
AEPC expects at least 500 exporters to enroll for this virtual platform in the initial phase.
There will be separate showrooms for medical textiles in the exhibition now that India is the second largest producer. The platform with an annual membership of just Rs. 5,000 will become an easy and economical alternative to the physical fairs that generally used to cost above Rs. 2 crore for one international event where 50 Indian apparel exporters participated.
AEPC Chairman Dr. A. Sakthivel said “Holding international exhibitions has become difficult due to travel restrictions related to coronavirus. To overcome this, we have set up a virtual platform to exhibit our products 24×7, 365 days a year.”
He further added that AEPC studied the virtual platforms of several international organisations and has come up with an improved version where buyers can have a near physical experience of the exhibition while navigating through the options in high resolution 360 degree avatars.
The platform offers free-flowing two-way communication between buyers and exhibitors through video calls and WhatsApp chat facilities.
Exhibitors have the real time flexibility to change their products on display and have the security feature of allowing only select buyers into their stalls. Buyers can collect products on their ‘Wishlist’ for discussion.
“We will also be able to have country-specific monthly or fortnightly events in which we will open a sub-platform or a sub-group for these fairs. We will write to Indian embassies abroad to contact local chambers of commerce and industries in various parts of the world for sourcing Indian apparels from the virtual platform,” concluded Sudhir Sekhri, Export Promotion Chairman, AEPC.
